As trusted partners, PKS International and the Community Engagement Liaisons (CELs) have proven instrumental in helping us build relationships with Hillsboro’s historically marginalized communities. Ping and her team of friendly, skilled, and versatile CELs are experts at creating opportunities for meaningful community engagement. We have had a positive experience each time we have turned to them for assistance with community engagement planning, focus group recruitment and facilitation, video narration, content translation, and more.

Nick Baker
Planner & Visual Communications Specialist, City of Hillsboro Planning Division

Our staff worked with several of the liaisons to conduct outreach and provide education to help inform businesses about specific solid waste requirements. The liaisons devoted time and energy to learn about our work, and these outings have been very effective at meeting the businesses where they are at. The liaisons were exceedingly professional both while in the field and during all communications, even when last minute changes or adjustments were required. Their team’s communications were prompt, and they provided all necessary details, reports and procedures to make our planning and documentation process smooth and reliable.

Kate De Cesare
Education and Outreach Supervisor, Washington County Health and Human Services

Community Engagement Liaisons are skilled at meeting individuals and families where they are, creating safe and welcoming interactions, and helping us better understand the lived experiences of the people we serve. The professionalism, reliability, and cultural knowledge that PKS International brings to partnership work is consistently evident.

 

I sincerely feel that the CELS program is an asset to our region, and I wholeheartedly recommend their continued involvement and support in any initiative focused on authentic community engagement.

Wing Grabowski
Partner, Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

We often work with the CELs to plan and host listening sessions with a wide range of communities, including Latinx, Slavic, Chinese, Vietnamese, BIPOC, English‑speaking underserved populations, and mainstream community members, as well as promote online engagement. CELs brings thoughtful engagement strategies that emphasized accessibility, trust, and meaningful participation, ensuring community members felt comfortable sharing detailed feedback about transportation safety, access, and daily mobility challenges.

 

CELs also brings deep professional expertise in community engagement with groups who are underrepresented in traditional planning processes. Their liaisons demonstrate a strong understanding of transportation planning concepts and were highly effective at translating technical topics into accessible, culturally relevant discussions. This expertise results in nuanced, actionable community input that directly informed Alta’s planning recommendations.

Katie Selin
Senior Associate Planner, Alta Planning + Design, Inc.

Working with CELs helped us [Clark County Public Works] reach a broader audience to participate in the development of our stormwater management action plan. CELS provided valuable input to make our surveys more accessible and most importantly, utilized local community liaisons to engage diverse populations in authentic ways.

Eric Lambert
Clean Water Outreach Manager, Clark County Public Works

We always appreciate working with the Community Engagement Liaisons/PKS International. They are incredibly well-connected in a variety of communities, able to serve as trusted liaisons and provide in-language engagement. Plus, they do a great job collaborating to create an approach that is unique for the project and then delivering on their scope.

JLA Public Involvement